But for safety issues, both teams’ games against Southwestern Conference rival Collinsville were called shortly after they started due to a continuous drizzle Thursday afternoon.

And both teams were winning when the umpires waved it off.

The Edwardsville Tiger softball team had built a 1-0 lead heading into the third inning against the Kahoks at the EHS Sports Complex.

And it could have been even more.

EHS leadoff hitter Michelle Cristel reached when hit by a pitch by Kahok starter Sydney Skeel to start the bottom of the first and Julie Honegger singled to put runners at first and second.

After a sacrifice bunt by Jessica McConnell advanced the runners a base, Skeel hit Rachel Coonrod with a pitch to load the bases.

Becca Strope then stepped in and delivered an RBI single before Skeel walked Adrienne Kruse to re-load the bases.

But Skeel struck out Lauren Francis and got Erin Greenwalt to line out to short to end the threat.

“We should have had another huge first inning, but we didn’t,” EHS coach Lori Blade said. “That was a little disappointing.”

One run may have been enough for Greenwalt, the hard-throwing righthander who started in the circle for the Tigers.

Greenwalt struck out the first four hitters of the game and six of the first eight hitters through two innings. She allowed just one hit and walked two before the game was called with one out in the top of the third.

“She was throwing the ball pretty well,” Blade said.

When Greenwalt slipped a few times on the rubber in the third, the umpires had a conference with the coaches and decided to call the game.

The game was started in a slight drizzle, and both teams’ knew that they might not get it in.

“It came in a little bit earlier than we were expecting,” Blade said of the rain. “We thought we might be able to get a quick five in if nothing else.

“You’d like to get five in, but it was getting pretty bad. You don’t want anybody to get hurt out there.”

While the softball team didn’t cash in as much as they would have liked in the first inning, the Tiger baseball team hit the jackpot, plating 11 runs in their first at-bat to open a huge lead before the game was called due to rain.

Ian Sikes hit a three-run homer in the first inning.

The Tiger softball team is scheduled to get back into action today when its hosts Triad at the EHS Sports Complex at 4:15 p.m., weather permitting.

The EHS baseball team, meanwhile, has a day off today before getting back into action Saturday. The game against Colliinsville has been rescheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at Tom Pile Field.

The Tigers will then play in the annual Busch Stadium game against Jerseyville following the Cardinals’ game against the Astros Saturday night.